Details of unregistered seminaries sought

Working group to support registration under new law

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SARGODHA:

Divisional Commissioner Jahanzeb Awan has sought details of unregistered seminaries across Sargodha.

The participants of a meeting presided over by the commissioner were

Informed that under a new law, the madrasas are now being registered through a federally administered directorate instead of under the Societies Act. The form for registration is available in the district offices of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD).

The participants were informed that 275 seminaries had been registered so far in Sargodha, 172 in Khushab, 121 in Mianwali and 185 in the Bhakkar district.

It was agreed to form a working group of the four deputy commissioners and officials of the NCHD and the religious education directorate to provide full support to the administrations of unregistered madrasas across the division to complete the registration.

Presiding over another meeting, the commissioner sought a performance report within a week of the government schools across the division before and after outsourcing.

He directed the district education authorities' chief executive officers to compile a detailed report of the enrollment, number of teachers and available facilities at all outsourced schools before and after the change.

He clarified that only one function of such government schools had been outsourced and no institution had been privatised, therefore, the education officers should take their full ownership.

The commissioner said the buildings and the condition of washrooms in all outsourced schools should be improved, drinking water should be available and teachers and grade-IV employees should be present as per requirement.

Apart from checking the cleanliness of the schools, the academic performance of the students should also be reviewed, he added.

Officials said 810 government schools had been outsourced in the division in the first phase, of which 257 were in Sargodha, 212 in Khushab, 148 in Mianwali and 193 in Bhakkar district.